Simply Christmas
A Simple Faith
December 2, 2018 • Lead Pastor Tim Moen
"Take time to be aware that in the very midst of our busy preparations for the celebration of Christ’s birth in ancient Bethlehem, Christ is reborn in the Bethlehems of our homes and daily lives. Take time, slow down, be still, be awake to the Divine Mystery that looks so common and so ordinary yet is wondrously present.” Edward Hays Matthew 1:18-25 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just (righteous) man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. Where does faith come from? Romans 10:17 "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Why have faith? Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Faith is necessary! James1:2-4 2 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
A Simple Joy
December 9, 2018 • Lead Pastor Tim Moen
Luke 2:8-11 8 “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And the angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. (10) And the angel said to them. Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”. Romans 3:23 “ALL have sinned and All have fallen short of the glory of God.” John 10:10 “... I came that you may have life and life more abundantly.” Five Tips For JOY at Christmas... That will last you ALL YEAR LONG 1. Place your TRUST fully upon Christ Jesus. Trusting God is so much simpler than not trusting Him. When you doubt God... His Word... and His promises... You're left to your own devices and reasoning when it comes to working things out. A a result you get stressed out. Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” 2 Examine your life and address any known sin. 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Psalm 51:12 “Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit.” 3 Set your eyes on the prize. Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” By keeping your eyes on “Prize” ... You are consistently reminding yourself that: • You belong to God • You have purpose • Your life matters • Today is worth living What is our prize? • To know Christ • To have Christ • To be in unity with Christ • To experience the power of Christ • To receive eternal life 4 Be generous and invest in others The Bible is clear that we are to live our lives generously. 1 John 3:16-18 “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 5 When life is hard and your are struggling with all of life’s circumstances one of the quickest ways to get reprieve is ... • To find a way to serve someone • To give of your time, money or any other of your resources. One of the quickest ways to bing a shot of Heaven’s JOY into your life is to find a way to be generous and to give and invest in another persons life. Proverbs 11:25 “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
A Simple Hope
December 16, 2018 • Lead Pastor Tim Moen
1 Corinthians 13:13 “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Peter 1:3-5 3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” His Great Mercy Ephesians 2:4-6 4 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” Mercy... Is when someone in power has the authority to punish for wrongs done... But out of compassion... Shows lenient or compassion Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He has caused us to be born again John 3:3-7 3 “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Hebrews 6:19 “We have this HOPE as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
A Simple Love
December 23, 2018 • Lead Pastor Tim Moen
1 Corinthians 13:13 13 “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Knowing God through Love 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in[d] us and His love is perfected in us. 13 This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given assurance to us from His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent His Son as the world’s Savior. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God. 16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, for we are as He is in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because He first loved us. Keeping God’s Commands 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother he has seen cannot love the God he has not seen. 21 And we have this command from Him: The one who loves God must also love his brother. God initiates His love two primary ways. First: He sent Jesus Christ His son to rescue us... Secondly: He sends His Holy Spirit to draw you towards Himself. What are we to do with God Initiated Love? 1. Receive It! Romans 10:9-10 9 “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” 2. Enjoy It! • Remember daily what Christ has done for us! • Daily spend time in his Word! • Express your gratitude for His love! • Get out into God’s creation! • Be still... Get quiet... Just listen! • Sing... Worship... Express yourself towards Him! • Just tell Him you love Him! 3. Give It! • Be open about your faith! • Serve others! • Be generous! • Pray for others! • Be intentional! • Invitations to church or your small group!